The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-05-21

llIoWll DICK ana Pillows airing, was
drawn out where had stood IL small
book cabinet he had particularly
noticed. John reassured himself he
was in the right door by several lit
tie articles on the walls, and while
the busy detective was diving around
in Annie's one trunk and the bureau
drawers looking for the lost treasure,
John was looking around at this lit
tie jewel of a room, fairy's paradise
as it seemed him. Across the foot of
the bed was dainty night-dress to
be sure made of cheap muslin and
trimmed in croquet lace, but John
did not know the difference between
it and one of linen trimmed with
one OF finest thread. Two small
slippers were set precisel y under the
bed, and over stool by their side
was a pair of red stockings, turned
wrong side out as though to air. In
deed, | am telling the truth when
tell it that while the detectives back
was turned, searching Annie's small
dish cupboard, John quickly stuffed
that pair of red stockings in his coat
pocket. Why he did so he could
never tell. Then, as he sat there on
the bed looking around upon the
tidy disorder, it came across him
what was the cause of Annie's con
fusion and distress, for, astute as
mankind is generally believed to be
he could dimly imagine that no lit
tie woman us neat as Annie, could
endure to have her castle caught in
such confusion. Perhaps had it
been the detective alone she would
not have cared and then John
smiled complacently to himself 1t
was her neat-fitting dress and dainty
linen collars and always spotless
white aprons that had first attracted
Johns attention and then it was
the pretty face, with its pleasant
smile and indesendent eyes that had
increased the interest until it had
eliminated in his meanly Docketinp
her red stockings.
At last the detective gave up in
despair
"She had hidden them some place
else" he said, shortly.
"Shc never had them at ALL, re-
piled John, calmly.
"Then what made her act so gull
typ questioned the other, all most
believing himself in her innocence.
"Don't know" answered John la
conically.
When they returned to the factory
there was quite Il confusion and
hubbub, for the jewels had been
found by another detective employ
ed by Dingus in the possession of
notorious pickpocket, who, disguised
as woman, had slipped into the
store with the crowd of factory girls.
Every body was glad, and con-
graduated Annie-even the smart
detective did, although he could not
help wishing she had been so consid-
crate as to assist him to gain that re-
ward. But Annie could not look
John straight in the face. Poor
child what feelings would have
been hers had she known the enor-
nous bulge in Johns jacket pocket
was caused by her identical red
stockings laid out to air that morn
ing? John of whom she never
dreamed as other than MIR. Dart
even though She worked faster when
he came her way, and perhaps felt
more anxiety about the smooth
masses of light brown hair than ut
any other time?
Wen, when the two officers had
gone, and all had settled to work
again, John came to Annics chair
and kindly said
Miss Annie, that detective turned
everything in your room in such
awful confusion it will take you all
day to straighten it up again, so if
you like, | have gotten permission
for you to take the remainder of the
day, and no reduction to be made"
"Thank you-you are very kind"
she murmured. but she would not
look at him and seemed so confused
that big, good natured John TUNED
away in pure kindness and let her
make her escape unnoticed.
Annie fled homeward, dashed in
to No. 30, glanced wildly over the
room, then burst into tears.
SO dear o dear p she sobbed.
"There was my night dress on the
bed, and my slippers, and my bed
not made up-and, o! potatoes in
the skillet 0, he will think l am
a regular slovenl Why couldn't it
happen any other time than whom
had to sleep so late | couldn't eat
my breakfast O, dear, he will
never like me again He couldn't